84' Substitution

Fulham stepped their pre-season regime up another level but were unable a stop a physically strong Werder Bremen outfit winning by a single goal at the Weser-Stadion.

The Whites jet straight off from the game to a high-altitude camp near Graz in Austria, with the aim of raising their fitness levels somewhere near their German opposition's, whose triumph was secured by Nils Petersen’s 55th minute strike.

Robin Dutt’s men begin their competitive season next weekend and the Bundesliga side showed the sharpness an extra two weeks of training provides to hold on to victory.

New coach Dutt, replacing the out-going club legend Thomas Schaaf after 14 years at the helm, is determined to stamp his mark on the club and his newly-assembled team took control of the game early on.

The Whites had Dutch shot-stopper Maarten Stekelenburg to thank for keeping the scores level when he stretched to palm over Aaron Hunt’s driven effort, then flew across goal to stop Sebastien Prödl’s header from the resulting corner.

One corner later, and Prödl had ghosted towards the back post to meet Clemens Fritz’s delivery but he could only head wide from close range.

Werder’s wing play was causing problems and the Whites rode their luck when Eljero Elia was left unmarked, and only headed the safe side of Stekelenburg’s post with the goal at his mercy.

It was a scare which made Jol’s Team settle and build some possession from the back, Ashkan Dejagah began tormenting from the right and Dimitar Berbatov’s movement kept Werder’s centre-backs on their toes.

The Bundesliga side had finished the first period stronger, with Fritz jabbing a shot wide under good pressure from Fernando Amorebieta, but the Whites had improved as the half progressed.

But, despite Fulham enjoying more and more possession, the hosts were asking the questions from the start of the second half. Hunt placed a free-kick narrowly off target and Theo Gebre Sellasie sent a shot fizzing over.

The break-through finally arrived after a lapse in the Whites' defence allowed Petersen to take advantage of the space, ride Stekelenburg’s challenge and slot the ball into an empty net.

A tiring Fulham continued to battle against the tide but two excellent combinations between Berbatov and first-half substitute Mesca Na Bangna, allowed the youngster a couple of half-chances.

The first was expertly blocked by the on-rushing Sebastian Mielitz in the Bremen goal, the second charged down by composed full-back Clemens Fritz.

Bremen regained control in the last five minutes with the Whites wilting and could have added to the score, showing the importance of building towards peak physical fitness ahead of the season.